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The federal tax deal between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans has prompted divergent reactions from Democratic senators, ranging from anger to resignation. Republican senators sound far more upbeat, one day after Mr. Obama abandoned a central plank of his economic policy - agreeing to a temporary extension of tax cuts for the wealthy.

Senate Republicans secured a commitment from the White House to allow all current tax cuts for all income levels to remain in place, while agreeing to measures to benefit the unemployed and middle-class families.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell struck a positive tone after presenting the deal to fellow Republicans. "I think the vast majority of the Republican caucus in the Senate feel that this is a step in the right direction, an important step to take for the American people. And I think the vast majority of my members will be supporting it," he said.

Less enthusiastic was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after a Democratic caucus meeting that featured a visit by Vice President Joe Biden. Reid made clear that, however necessary the tax deal may be, it is a bitter pill for Democrats to swallow.

"We are all appreciative of the work the president has done to move the tax debate forward. While this is not an arrangement many in the [Democratic] caucus would have made, we understand the president is negotiating with congressional Republicans, who are willing to risk everything to secure tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans," he said.

Asked if he intends to vote for the tax deal, Reid would only say he will do what he thinks is right. He said many Democratic senators have deep concerns about the proposal.

That may be an understatement. Senator Mary Landrieu, a Democrat from Louisiana suggested the plan amounts to welfare for millionaires at the cost of the poor and middle class, and that she is at a loss to explain why President Obama agreed to the deal.

"He [Obama] basically didn't think any of us cared much about it. Well, I want him to know: I do care," he said.

Such blunt criticism of a president by a senator from his own party is rare.

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California was non-committal on the proposal at her party's caucus, and remained so afterwards. "What we really need to see is the proposal in context, with dollar marks after it, so you can look at it and add it up," she said.

But Senator Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota appears resigned to a distasteful political compromise made necessary by perilous economic conditions. "I think the president did not have much choice. The best economic analysis available to us and available to him indicated that a failure to get a package of about this size would lead to substantially-reduced economic growth next year," he said.

Several Republican senators, including Kit Bond of Missouri, hailed the proposal for its inclusion of a key Republican demand: no taxes hikes for anyone. "It's a great step forward. It's the one thing I think can have a chance of boosting the economy and begin creating the jobs we badly need," Bond said.

But Bond admitted the plan will add hundreds of billions of dollars to America's trillion-dollar federal deficit, since, as of now, few provisions are offset by corresponding cuts in spending. Members of both parties have spoken passionately about the need to trim the deficit. For now, however, Washington appears willing to further expand the deficit in the short term, hoping to spark economic expansion that will make it easier to close the budget gap in the long term.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that his country could face further consequences to what he called its “already strained economy” if Moscow does not fully comply with a cease-fire in Ukraine. The two met, on Monday, on the sidelines of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, where Kerry outlined human rights violations in Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine. VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports from Geneva.

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that his country could face further consequences to what he called its “already strained economy” if Moscow does not fully comply with a cease-fire in Ukraine. The two met, on Monday, on the sidelines of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, where Kerry outlined human rights violations in Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine. VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports from Geneva.

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Diagnosing infections such as HIV requires expensive clinical tests, making the procedure too costly for many poor patients or those living in remote areas. But a new technology called lab-on-a-chip may make the tests more accessible to many. VOA’s George Putic reports.

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Afghan officials have expressed concern over reports of a crackdown on Afghan refugees in Pakistan following the Peshawar school attack in December. Reports of mass arrests and police harassment coupled with fear of an uncertain future are making life difficult for a population that fled its homeland to escape war. VOA’s Ayesha Tanzeem reports from Islamabad.

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Despite the ongoing ceasefire in Ukraine, soldiers in the city of Mariupol fear that pro-Russian separatists may be getting ready to attack. The separatists must take or encircle the city if they wish to gain land access to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia early last year. But Ukrainian forces, many of them volunteers, say they are determined to defend it. Patrick Wells reports from Mariupol.

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As low oil prices and Western sanctions force Russia's economy into recession, thousands of Moscow restaurants are expected to close their doors. Restaurant owners face rents tied to foreign currency, while rising food prices mean Russians are spending less when they dine out. One entrepreneur in Moscow has started a dinner kit delivery service for those who want to cook at home to save money but not skimp on quality. VOA's Daniel Schearf reports.

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The United States and Cuba say they have made progress in the second round of talks on restoring diplomatic relations more than 50 years after breaking off ties. Delegations from both sides met in Washington on Friday to work on opening embassies in Havana and Washington and iron out key obstacles to historic change. VOA’s Mary Alice Salinas reports from the State Department.

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One after another, presumptive Republican presidential contenders auditioned for conservative support this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference held outside Washington. The rhetoric was tough as a large field of potential candidates tried to woo conservative support with red-meat attacks on President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. VOA Political Columnist Jim Malone takes a look.

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New Yorkers take pride in setting world trends — in fashion, the arts and fine dining. The city’s famous biannual Restaurant Week plays a significant role in a booming tourism industry that sustains 359,000 jobs and generates $61 billion in yearly revenue. VOA's Ramon Taylor reports.

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Issues like the Keystone XL pipeline, fracking and instability in the Middle East are driving debate in the U.S. about making America energy independent. Recently, the American Energy Innovation Council urged Congress and the White House to make expanded energy research a priority. One beneficiary of increased energy spending would be the Brookhaven National Lab, where clean, renewable, efficient energy is the goal. VOA's Bernard Shusman reports.

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There has been a surge of interest in the American civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s, thanks in part to the Hollywood motion picture "Selma." Five decades later, communities in the South are embracing the dark chapters of their past with hopes of luring tourism dollars. VOA's Chris Simkins reports.

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A Lao dam project on a section of the Mekong River is drawing opposition from local fishermen, international environmental groups and neighboring countries. VOA's Say Mony visited the region to investigate the concerns. Colin Lovett narrates.